Dangote supports Nigeria’s efforts to combat Ebola virus

Supporting response efforts

Earlier this month, Dangote Cement’s Aliko Dangote announced that the Dangote Foundation would invest more than N152 million in a National Ebola Emergency Centre (EOC) in Yaba, Lagos. The EOC will assist Nigeria’s efforts to respond to the virus. Headed by US-trained public health expert, Dr Faisal Shuaib, the EOC will help to coordinate prevention, surveillance, containment and patient care. Described as the ‘engine room of the national response’, the centre will link the medical community within Nigeria and internationally, including the countries in West Africa where the Ebola virus has had the greatest impact.

“The national response to the unfortunate outbreak of Ebola in our country has been impressive. The few cases of Ebola Virus Disease, all contracted from the index case, are confined to one state only,” said Aliko Dangote. “This is a period of national health emergency and government’s comprehensive containment strategy requires the support of all Nigerians to succeed. We have therefore decided to lend our support to the effort. The Ebola EOC is an important innovation that will strengthen our health system, even long after this particular health crisis has abated.”

“The Ebola EOC ensures that government continues to provide the necessary leadership and a transparent platform for the coordination and collaboration which are essential for us to stay on top of this crisis. We are delighted that Alhaji Aliko Dangote has once again stood up to be counted when it matters,” noted Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Dangote Cement

In other news, Nigeria’s Peoples Daily has reported that Dangote Cement has given its distributors a half-year bonus in recognition of their support and the vital strategic role that they play for the business.

As previously reported, Dangote Cement Plc achieved a 5.3% rise in consolidated group revenue in 1H14, as well as a 1.6% increase in EBITDA. In Nigeria alone, revenue was up 6.1% and sales volumes reached 6.8 million t. Although disruption to gas and LPFO supplies impacted production and results for 1H14, D.V.G. Edwin, Group Managing Director & CEO, stated: “We have built coal facilities to serve Lines 1 and 2 at Ibese and Line 3 at Obajana and are embarking on a programme to equip all our kilns in Nigeria with the ability to burn coal in preference to the more expensive LPFO we use at present. One new line at Ibese and the new line at Obajana have been commissioned and are under trial production and the fourth line at Ibese is under commissioning and we are confident they will be producing commercial quantities of cement in the near future."

Keep an eye out for World Cement’s upcoming September 2014 issue, which will feature an article by D.V.G. Edwin, who will provide an insight into the Sub-Saharan cement industry and outline the company’s expansion plans.